We are a “Third Place” but what does that mean? The term “Third Place” was coined by Ray Oldenburg in his book The Great Good Place”. The book talks about one’s home being the first place, one’s work being the second, and a place of gathering for conversation and community is a “Third Place”. It also goes into great detail about the concerning disappearance of local places to gather and be part of
a community. The book was written in the 1980s and we feel this is a concern even more so today. We built Sampaguita around that idea, not specifically following every idea in the book but rather building of the basic concept. Sampaguita is, at it’s core, a place to “Just Be.”. The concept of “Just Be.”. This is probably the hardest concept to both explain and for folks to grasp. In a world were everything has a timeline, an agenda, a purpose, a point….we strive to not be that place whenever possible. While we have many types of events, shows, retail, and other formal activities, we really just want to open the doors for folks to enjoy the space. Sampaguita is not only a community space serving the Lakes Area, it is a diverse retail experience and follows a philosophy that supports the arts. Customers have the opportunity to shop in a local, trusted environment while benefiting from our listening room which hosts concerts from local and national groups, art shows, classes, puppets shows, and more. Our goal is that you always feel welcome to shop, attend an event, or just stop by and “Be”. The retail concept is that everything is for sale. Like the art on the wall? Like the chair or tables in the building? Like some of the decor? Our space is meant to be an ever evolving hub for the arts and community where you feel at home in a space so much that you can always take a piece of it home with you. This is different from most retail that has shelves and such. We aim to incorporate much of what we sell into the actual environment so that when you visit us it's more a gallery and living experience, where you can relax, listen, and enjoy.
